Cardiff striker Joe Mason believes the Bluebirds can take plenty of positives from their Carling Cup heartbreak, and have proved they can handle life among the Premier Leagueâs elite.

Confident: Cardiff’s Joe Mason reckons a Premier League place is in sight (Picture: PA)

Just ten months before netting the opening goal against Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday, the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international was fighting a losing battle against relegation to League Two with Plymouth.

Now Mason has experienced his first taste of the big time, and he believes the Bluebirds are ready to grace the top flight after taking Liverpool to penalty kicks.

âThere are a lot of positives to be taken from this, especially going back into a league campaign. Weâve got no distractions now and weâre going to try and get promoted,â Mason said.

âYou want to play against the best players and everything at Cardiff is built to play in the Premier League, going that extra mile and we will get there.

âWest Ham are coming Sunday and thatâs all we can think about now. There are no distractions. There are eight games in March and weâve got to try to get on a good run and get up that league.â